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1 Response to Translation and Historicity of the Book of Abraham

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1 Response to Translation and Historicity of the Book of Abraham Response to Translation and Historicity of the Book of Abraham Copyright © 2016 by H. Michael Marquardt. All rights reserved. The Essay The essay on “Translation and Historicity of the Book of Abraham” starts by stating that the LDS Church embraces the book as scripture.1 It proclaims that it is a record of the biblical patriarch Abraham and as such tells that he wanted the priesthood and “received knowledge about the Creation.” The book adds to what is known about the life and teachings of Abraham. The second paragraph states that the book of Abraham was published in 1842 and included in the Pearl of Great Price that was canonized by an LDS Church conference in 1880. It is stated that the book originated with Egyptian papyri and that it is impossible to reconstruct how it was done as only small fragments now exist. It is conjecture about the relationship of the book’s text and those fragments. Having stated the above, the essay says that the book of Abraham “is consistent with historical knowledge about the ancient world.” But even this cannot prove the book is true. As scripture “the book of Abraham supports, expands, and clarifies the biblical account of Abraham’s life.” Three paragraphs briefly summarize the content of the book. Another section tells about the origin of the book, purchased in 1835, with one of the papyri rolls being the writings of Abraham. Though Joseph Smith did not know ancient languages he worked on an Egyptian grammar soon after purchasing the papyri. Next is a lengthy part concerning the papyri that came back into the possession of the LDS Church in 1967. The essay mentions that “None of the characters on the papyrus fragments mention Abraham’s name or any of the events recorded in the book of Abraham.” The papyrus fragments date “long after Abraham lived.” The records could be copies, redacted later and the illustrations also could have no connection with Abraham. The process of obtaining the text could be by revelation. The book of Abraham fits into the ancient world view and helps the claim of its historicity as an ancient record. The book is against human sacrifice and rejects the worship of idols. Explanations of the Abraham facsimiles by Joseph Smith have “earmarks of the ancient world.” Abraham taught astronomy to Egyptians. Some ancient traditions were known in Joseph Smith’s time and some were not. The essay concludes by explaining that scholarly debate cannot settle the veracity and value or its status as scripture. Only through “study, prayer, and spiritual confirmation” can its truth be found. 1 “Translation and Historicity of the Book of Abraham,” posted on www.lds.org, (under Gospel Topics), July 8, 2014. 1 Response As the essay indicates, the book of Abraham is considered scripture and can be accepted as such by “study, prayer, and spiritual confirmation.” It is also possible to understand by using historical methods to develop what the ancient text says. In this response I will explain some of the history and development of what is accepted as the writings of Abraham and how it relates to the interest in America of artifacts from Egypt. The essay is important in what it says concerning the name Abraham and whether the story recounted in the book is connected with one of the Egyptian papyri. ACQUIRING THE EGYPTIAN PAPYRI In July 1835, one hundred eighty years ago, members of the Church of the Latter Day Saints, purchased four Egyptian mummies and some papyri. Soon after church prophet-president Joseph Smith Jr. (1805-44) worked on an “Egyptian Alphabet” that is connected with the first illustration of the ancient papyrus. The papyrus was damaged and in order to preserve the beginning of the Egyptian papyrus it was attached to paper. The first illustration was “restored” and published in the church newspaper Times and Seasons in March 1842. It was called “A FAC-SIMILE FROM THE BOOK OF ABRAHAM. N0. 1” though it is not an exact reproduction of the original. The claim was that this record was the “Book of Abraham” and that it was written by him on papyrus in ancient times, “while he was in Egypt.” If this writing was produced by Abraham, father of the Hebrew nation, it would be the oldest known document relating to the Hebrew Scriptures. Whether the “Book of Abraham” is an ancient record is a logical question. Though the printed book in the English language is no more than fifteen pages, it is important to consider whether it is a recent production or an ancient one. The individual who sold the papyri and Egyptian mummies to the LDS Church was Michael H. Chandler (circa 1797-1866). He was impressed with church president Joseph Smith. With the artifacts there was a printed placard that explained the mummies “may have lived in the days of Jacob, Moses, or David” and the papyri with their ancient writing “will be exhibited with the Mummies.”2 Smith believed that one of the papyrus rolls contained the writings of Abraham and the other the writings of Joseph. He showed Michael Chandler some characters on the papyrus that he said were similar to the characters found on the Book of Mormon gold plates.3 For these reasons, Smith decided to purchase the relics. Chandler presented the following certificate to Smith before the purchase was made: Kirtland, July 6th, 1835. This is to make known to all who may be desirous, concerning the knowledge of Mr. Joseph Smith, jr. in deciphering the ancient Egyptian hieroglyphic characters, in my possession, which I have, in many eminent cities, shown to the most learned: 2 “Egyptian Antiquities,” Times and Seasons 3, no. 13 (May 2, 1842):774, Nauvoo, Illinois. 3 Oliver Cowdery, Letter to William Frye, December 22, 1835, Oliver Cowdery Letterbook, 72, Henry E. Huntington Library, San Marino, California; published in Latter Day Saints’ Messenger and Advocate 2, no. 3 (December 1835):235, Kirtland, Ohio. 2 And, from the information that I could learn, or meet with, I find that [i.e., the translation] of Mr. Joseph Smith, jr. to correspond in the most minute matters. (Signed) Michael H. Chandler. Travelling with, and proprietor of Egyptian Mummies.4 Chandler’s asking price for the items was $2,400, a substantial amount considering the expenditures Smith's church was incurring in constructing the large meetinghouse to be known as the Kirtland House of the Lord, or Kirtland Temple. According to Joseph Coe (1784-1854), arrangements were made to make the purchase before Chandler left Kirtland. Coe explained eight years later, in 1844, that Chandler was merely the agent for the real owners of the relics: “Previous t[o] closing the contra[c]t with Chandler I made ar[r]angements with S[imeon]. Andrews for to take one third part and your self [Joseph Smith] & Co. one third leaving one third to be borne by myself.... Chandler was only an agent acting for some men in Philadelphia.5 CONTENTS OF THE BOOK OF ABRAHAM The Pearl of Great Price (2013 edition) has five separate items in its contents and is the only LDS scripture with illustrations. The Book of Abraham is divided into five chapters containing 136 verses. The most interesting aspect of the book is that it includes three illustrations. The first illustration is mentioned twice in the opening chapter of the book. The papyrus that was used to render the text of what was considered Abraham’s record has a relationship to the three printed illustrations. The book is unique in that the illustrations are considered part of Joseph Smith’s book of Abraham. The Egyptian papyrus was in the same language family reported to have been written on the plates of the Book of Mormon. Joseph Smith soon obtained by divine revelation the information that the Egyptian writing contained the teachings of Abraham and also a sacred record of Joseph. This was the reason he desired to pay $2,400 for the papyri and mummies. William W. Phelps (1792-1872), Warren Parrish (1803-77), and John Whitmer (1802- 78), scribes and church historian, each mention that Smith when he saw the Egyptian records knew by revelation he could “translate” the Egyptian characters. God ordered that the ancient artifacts that Chandler exhibited should come into the possession of the church. Joseph Smith indicated that he could decipher the hidden language of the ancient Egyptians. To Smith the rolls of papyri were ancient records and would be of great value to the saints.6 4 Ibid. 5 Coe, Letter to Joseph Smith, January 1, 1844, Joseph Smith Collection, Church History Library, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Salt Lake City, Utah; hereafter LDS Church History Library. It is not known how the one-third share was finally disposed of as the Smith family retained the mummies and papyri. Joseph Smith replied to Coe, “I have got your Deed...for all the interest you ever held in the Mummies” (Smith, Copy of letter to Coe, January 18, 1844, LDS Church History Library; see Dean C. Jessee, comp. and ed., Personal Writings of Joseph Smith, Rev. Ed. (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co./Provo, Utah: Brigham Young University Press, 2002), 593. 6 H. Michael Marquardt, The Rise of Mormonism: 1816-1844, 2nd ed. (Maitland, Florida: Xulon Press, 2013), 237-48. 3 The story in the first two chapters consists of Abraham’s desire to be ordained and become a high priest, the attempted sacrifice of Abraham on an altar, the patriarchal priesthood, and the first person account of his travels.
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